Giancarlo Stanton homers for sixth consecutive game in Marlins’ loss to Giants

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly discusses the team's 9-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, including a poor night from the bullpen following a series of good ones, plus another Giancarlo Stanton home run and Mattingly's eight-game homer streak from 30 years ago.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly discusses the team's 9-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, including a poor night from the bullpen following a series of good ones, plus another Giancarlo Stanton home run and Mattingly's eight-game homer streak from 30 years ago.

Not much went well for the Miami Marlins in a 9-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, from a blown late lead to an inability to score after the fourth inning to a 1-for-8 performance with runners in scoring position.

That makes six games in a row with a long ball for Stanton, whose solo shot landed on the stairs beyond the home-run statue in left-center field, a projected 432 feet from home plate.

His latest totals: 44 dingers on the season, 11 in his past 12 games and 23 in his past 35 games. The only batters to hit more homers in a 35-game stretch are Sammy Sosa (25 in 1998) and Barry Bonds (24 in 2001), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“The fact that he’s delivering when the expectations are there speaks to how locked-in he is and how dedicated he is to finding the right pitches,” said catcher A.J. Ellis, who also homered. “You watch the way teams are starting to pitch him now, he’s starting to get only one or two pitches each night to even drive. They’re starting to pitch him a lot tougher. Not trying to come to his nitro zones at all — and when they do, he’s not missing.”

Stanton is two games away from tying the major league record of eight consecutive games with a home run, which has been done three times: by Dale Long in 1956, Don Mattingly in 1987 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993.

“I don't know what he's feeling, trust me,” said Mattingly, the Marlins’ manager. “His [hot streak] has been prolonged. My was a little eight-dayer. It's just one of those things, you're feeling good up there.”

Stanton’s 11 homers this month — which is only half over — are a Marlins record for August. His 18 since the All-Star break tie the franchise second-half record (his own, 18 in 2012).

Much went the Marlins’ way early, but the bullpen — strong this homestand — allowed six runs in four innings.

Righty Junichi Tazawa blew the lead for good in the seventh, when he allowed three runs on four hits and recorded no outs.

“I just missed spots,” Tazawa said through an interpreter. “They got four hits, I made mistakes.”

Even Stanton was not immune to oopsies. During Tazawa’s portion of the seventh, the Giants took the lead when Stanton’s throw, meant to cut down Carlos Moncrief at third, instead sailed into the stands and allowed Moncrief to score.

Giancarlo Stanton departs Miami with 113 more home runs than No. 2 Dan Uggla on the Marlins' all-time list.

Right-hander Dan Straily gave up three runs in five innings, which was about in line with his previous three starts. He allowed five hits and walked two, striking out three.

“For me, the last few [starts], getting into the sixth, it was getting rough,” Mattingly said. “I thought [the Giants] hit him pretty good tonight. They seemed to be kind of all over him.”

In the fifth, Straily threw 22 pitches and allowed a run on Madison Bumgarner’s RBI single, hit 103.3 mph off the left-field wall.

“In my mind, the one mistake the whole day was the pitch that I left over the middle to Bumgarner there,” Straily said. “That was really the one pitch tonight that I want back. That was really the only mistake I had to pay for.”

Straily, who has maintained that he feels no different in recent weeks, hasn’t had the same bottom-line production. In the first half, he had a 3.31 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. In the second half, through seven starts, Straily has a 5.20 ERA and 1.57 WHIP. He has also seen a dip in his strikeout (as well as walk) rate.

Straily accurately noted that aside from one start — four innings, six runs against the Rangers July 25 — his halves look much more similar.

“It inflated everything,” Straily said. “That’s why the numbers are a little different in my opinion.”

He hit his 43rd home run of the season, breaking the Marlins’ single-season record with a two-run shot to left field in the first inning against the Giants at Marlins Park. Miami beat San Francisco, 8-3, but in another...

He hit his 43rd home run of the season, breaking the Marlins’ single-season record with a two-run shot to left field in the first inning against the Giants at Marlins Park. Miami beat San Francisco, 8-3, but in another...

(Tim Healey)

The Marlins jumped ahead in the first inning on Christian Yelich’s RBI double to center. Marcell Ozuna (starting on first base) nearly caught Stanton (starting on second) between second and third, but third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez successfully waved Stanton in while holding Ozuna at third.

That was part of Miami’s successful night against Bumgarner, the Giants’ ace, who yielded four runs on nine hits in six innings. The Marlins’ last run against Bumgarner, or any San Francisco pitcher, came on Ellis’ fourth-inning blast.

Ellis was mostly impressed with Stanton’s version, though.

“It’s a fun, fun day at the ballpark because [Bumgarner is] going to give his absolute best,” Ellis said. “You got to rise your game to that level to try to meet him. So for G to put a swing like that on a pretty good backdoor cutter, it was a great mano-a-mano moment.”

Outfielder Cameron Maybin signed a one-year deal Wednesday with the Marlins, the team he spent the 2008-10 seasons with, and will compete for a spot in the Opening Day lineup. "We haven't had a lot of talk [about playing time]," he said. "Today is my first day. I'm going to play everywhere, going to get some work in in right [field]. But I'm just here to try to help out, try to help lead these guys in the right direction, and create a culture of togetherness."

Outfielder Cameron Maybin signed a one-year deal Wednesday with the Marlins, the team he spent the 2008-10 seasons with, and will compete for a spot in the Opening Day lineup. "We haven't had a lot of talk [about playing time]," he said. "Today is my first day. I'm going to play everywhere, going to get some work in in right [field]. But I'm just here to try to help out, try to help lead these guys in the right direction, and create a culture of togetherness."

CAPTION

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly discusses what it's like to coach second-generation pro baseball players. The Marlins have two in spring training: first baseman/outfielder Scott Van Slyke and catcher Chad Wallach, whose fathers both played in the majors.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly discusses what it's like to coach second-generation pro baseball players. The Marlins have two in spring training: first baseman/outfielder Scott Van Slyke and catcher Chad Wallach, whose fathers both played in the majors.

CAPTION

Miami Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman made his second public appearnce since his group of investors bought the team at the end of last season, speaking to reporters and the team Monday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium where the Marlins had their first full-squad workout of spring training.

Miami Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman made his second public appearnce since his group of investors bought the team at the end of last season, speaking to reporters and the team Monday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium where the Marlins had their first full-squad workout of spring training.

CAPTION

Marlins manager Don Mattingly has many decisions to make as he prepares for the first full-squad workout on Monday.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly has many decisions to make as he prepares for the first full-squad workout on Monday.